Infertility is a distressing issue that ranks high in the list of life-altering circumstances. It’s one thing to conceive a child, much less do so, especially when you’re healthy, and there is no apparent reason why you can’t have children. One of the factors that can cause male infertility is varicocele. In this blog post, we will discuss what varicocele is, how it can affect male fertility, and most importantly, a surgical solution to this problem.
What is Varicocele?
Varicocele is a medical condition that affects approximately 15-25% of men. It is an enlargement of the veins within the scrotum, the sac-like structure that houses the testicles. Varicocele occurs when the deoxy-genated blood flows backward into the veins around the testicles, causing them to dilate or enlarge. This enlargement occurs because the veins fail to cope with the increased blood flow, dilating like balloons stretching beyond their elastic limits.
Read also: Why you MIGHT need a VARICOCELECTOMY?!
Cause of Varicocele
The causes of varicocele are multifaceted, and the condition can be related to many factors like age, genetics, and lifestyle. Varicocele becomes more common as men age and lifestyle factors like heavy lifting can also exacerbate the condition.
Varicocele and Male Fertility
Varicocele can seriously impact male fertility. The blood flowing in the veins around the testicles is deoxygenated, and thus it increases the temperature within the scrotum. The rise in temperature has an adverse effect on the sperm production process which ultimately leads to a decrease in the motility of the sperm. Varicocele can also cause damage to the DNA structure of sperm and reduce the number of sperm produced.
Read also: How to INCREASE FERTILITY for MEN feat. Mama Doctor Jones!
https://renamalikmd.com/how-to-increase-fertility-for-men-feat-mama-doctor-jones/
Varicocele Treatment
Surgical treatment of varicocele is one of the primary and most effective ways to correct varicocele and restore fertility. There are various surgical methods to correct varicocele, but the end goal is to block the deoxygenated blood flow causing the increased temperature and decreased sperm production.
The aim of varicocele repair – or varicocelectomy – is to ligate the affected veins, rerouting the deoxygenated blood flow to other healthy veins in the body. This surgery is minimally invasive and can be conducted through various methods, including laparoscopic surgery and microsurgical repair.
Laparoscopic Surgery
Laparoscopic surgery is ordinarily done under general anesthesia. It involves making small incisions in the abdomen through which surgical instruments and a laparoscope are passed. This procedure is often preferred because of its minimally invasive nature.
Microsurgical Repair
Microsurgical repair is a slightly more complex surgery carried out through a scrotal incision using a microscope. It provides a deeper view of the veins to the surgeon who can take better care in ligating the varicocele vein while preserving the other healthy veins.
Recovery
After undergoing varicocele repair, the patient may feel minor pain and discomfort, with the inflammation around the testicles taking approximately 6 weeks to heal. It should be noted that fertility is not instantly restored after surgery, with it taking 6-12 months to see a successful pregnancy. However, studies have shown that varicocele repair increases the chance of having a live pregnancy by 52-55%.
Conclusion
In conclusion, varicocele can be detrimental to male fertility, hurting the sperm production process and causing reduced motility and low sperm count. Although there are medicated treatments, surgery is the most effective method to correct infertility caused by varicocele, with varicocele repair success rates at around 90%. With the right guidance, individuals with varicocele can still have hope of restored fertility.
